Home > 5.1 Nature of the referendum > SWITZERLAND - Federal Act on Political Rights
 
 
 
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Article 72
 

Successful request for a popular initiative 


1 After expiry of the period allowed for the collection of signatures, the Federal Chancellery shall establish whether the popular initiative has obtained the required number of valid signatures. If less than half of the quorum required under the Constitution has been achieved, a notice shall be published in the Federal Gazette stating simply that the period allowed for the collection of signatures has expired. If half or more of the required quorum has been achieved, the Federal Council shall issue a ruling confirming whether or not the popular initiative has been successful.


2 The following are invalid:



  1. signatures on lists that do not fulfil the requirements of Article 68;

  2. signatures of signatories whose eligibility to vote is not certified;

  3. signatures on lists that have been submitted after the period allowed for the collection of signatures.


3 The Federal Chancellery shall publish the ruling on the success of the initiative in the Federal Gazette together with details of the numbers of valid and invalid signatures for each canton.